Cistern-cleaner.



. Patented Sept. I8, |900. J. T. HINDMAN.

CISTERN CLEANER.

(Application filed June 11, 1900.1

(No Model.)

Mirna/yam w .ma nr. M

,mmf W 8pm VW@ e m 4. 5 we No. 658,175. Patented sept. la, |900. J. T.HtNnMAN.

CISTERN lCLEANER.

(Application filed June 11, 1.900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

55117: uw. vr nn rar,

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

JAMES T."IIINDMAN, or ANNA, ILLINOIS.A

CISTERN-CLEAN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,175, datedSeptember 18, 1906. Application filed June 11, 1900l Serial No. 19,932.(No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES T. HINDMAN, of the city of Anna, Union county,State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCistern-Cleaners and Water-Purifiers, of which the following is a full,`

clear,- and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to cistern-cleaners and waterepurifiers; and itconsists of the novel construction,combination, and arrange-y ment ofpart-s hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

Figure 1 is a View showing the invention as applied when in use. Fig. 2is a detail sec` tional view of a portion of the air and conductingpipes and shows the valve carried within the lower end of theconducting-pipe. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line a aof Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan View showing the device which I employ tocarry the mechanism when not in use. Fig. 5 is arear end elevation ofthe same. Fig. 6 is a view in perspective with parts broken away,showing the receiving-hopperl into which the settlings are conveyedafter being removed from the cistern.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the tractionwheels, upon which is mounted arectangular frame constructed of 'tubular members, the arrangement ofwhich is best shown in Fig. 4. The 'specific' purpose of thisconstruction is to avoid unnecessary weight, while at the same time thestrength is great enough to support the device when not in use. side ofthe side members 2 of the frame are secured standards 3, between whichthe airconducting pipes are carried during transportation from one placeto another. Carried near the rear end of the tubular framework is anair-pump 4, leading from the rear side of which is a pipe 5, the samebeing connected to the air-conducting pipe by means of a hose 6.

7 indicates the conducting-pipe, which is made use of to conduct thesettlings from the bottom of the cistern.` Secured to the lower end ofthe conducting-pipe is a tubular section 8, carrying near the lower endthereof retaining-pins 9, the purpose of which is to prevent the valve,which prevents the backiiow, from being drawn out of the pipe dur- Toeaching the operation of the machine. Threaded over the lower end of thesection 8 is a nipple l0, the lower edge of which, as shown, is providedwith a plurality of teeth 11, the purpose of which is to allow thenipple to better engage within the settlings at the bot; tom of thecistern. Integral with the up per end of the nipple 10 is a bottom 12,car ried within an aperture, in the center of which is a small nipple13, in the upper end of which normally rests a ball 14, which,

is the valve that prevents .the back'low of the stream of settlings whenthe device is'in use. Carried alongside the conducting-pipe 7 is anair-pipe 15, the upper end of. which is connected to the hose 6 and thelower end of which leads into the tubular section 8, between the upperend of the nipple 10 and the pin 9. When the air is forced by means ofthe air-pump 4 through the air-pipe 15, the` ball 14 is forced from thenipple 13 and assumes a position diametrically opposite from the lowerend of 'the pipe 15. This creates a current of air upwardly through theconducting-pipe 7, the force of which draws the settlings from thebottom of the cistern into which the nipple 10 has been forced. Theupper end of the conductingpipe 7 is closed by any well-known means, asby a valve or a plug, and the material is led from the saidconducting-pipe by means of a horizontal pipe' 16. 1The outer end of thehorizontal pipe 16 projects overa receiving-hopper 17 in the mannershown in Fig. 1. The receiving-hopper 17 is provided with a bottom 18 inthe form of an inverted pyramid, and leading from the lowest pointthereofis a conductingpipe 19, the purpose of which is to conduct thesettlings to any point v desired. Within the hopper 17 is a second-l arybottom 20, of reticulated material, which is for the purpose of holdingback all particles which are too large to pass through the pipe 19.k f

The operation is as follows: When it is desired to use the machine, theconductingpipes 7 and the air-pipe 15-are placed within the cistern inthe manner shown in Fig. 1, the nipple 10 being forced into thesettlings at the bottom of the cistern. The air-pipe 15 is thenconnected to the pipe 5 by means of the hose 6, and the horizontal pipe16 is arranged, as shown, above the receivinghopper 17. The device isthen in position ready for use, and the air-pump 4 is operated, whichforces a current of air through the pipe 5 into the hose 6 anddownwardly through the air-pipe 15. This forces the ball 14 from itsposition in the upper end of the nipple 13 and creates an upward currentof air, which draws the settlings from the bottom of the cisternupwardly through the pipe 7 and outwardly through the pipe 16. Betweenthe operations of the air-pump 4, when no current of air is passingupwardly through the pipe 7, the ball 14 settles back by gravityinto'the upper end of the nipple 13, thereby preventing any bal'-- iowof the material which is contained within the pipe 7. At each succeedingoperation-the ball 14 is forced from its position, as above described.On some occasions it may be desired to purify or aerate the water of thecistern after it has been cleaned. This may be done by moving the nipple10 from the tubular section 8 and operating the air-pump 4, as abovedescribed. This will force a current of air through the pipe 15, whichwill pass out at the lower end thereof and will thoroughly aerate thewater.

'I claim- 1. A cistern -cleaner and water-purifier, comprising aconductingpipe, an air-pipe leading into said conducting-pipe, a valvecarried in said conducting-pipe adjacent to the lower end of the saidair-pipe, and means for retaining the said valve within said pipe,substantially as speciiied.

2. A cistern-cleaner and water-purilier,

comprising a conducting-pipe, an air-pipe leading into saidconducting-pipe, a valve carried within said conducting-pipe adjacent tothe end of said air-pipe, which valve is openedwhen the current of airis forced into the conducting-pipe, and is closed when the current isnot in motion, substantially as specified.

3. A device of the class described, compris'- ing a conducting-pipe, anair-pipe carried Aalongside and leading into said conductingpipe, meansfor drawing thesettlings from the bottom of the cistern through saidconducting-pipe, a valve carried within said con- .ductng-pipe, pins forretaining said valve therein, and a detachable nipple for upholding saidvalve, substantially as specified.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a conducting-pipe, anair-pipe carried by and leading into said conducting-pipe near its lowerend, means for forcing a current of air through said air-pipe andthrough said conducting-pipe, a nipple carried by the lower end of saidconducting-pipe, a valve supported by said nipple for preventing abackilow of the settlings when the current is not in operation, andmeans for retaining said valve within the said conducting-pipe,substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof `I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES T. HINDMAN.

Vitnesses:

ALFRED A. EIcKs, JOHN D. RIPPEY.

